Category: Tips and Tricks

When you’re looking for creative and healing art therapy projects for seniors, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve listed 25 creative art therapy projects for seniors in this article that will help them find greater peace and meaning in their lives.

The exercises in this article help seniors deal with strong emotions such as trauma and unhappiness, decrease anxiety and stress and strengthen their self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-worth.

Art Therapy Projects For Seniors To Deal With Emotions

Emotions can be overwhelming. Often it’s hard to differentiate all the emotions and feelings because there are many and they can be all mixed up.

It is important to know that people can experience primary and secondary emotions. Primary emotions are the initial reactions to external events or stimuli. And Secondary emotions are the reactions we then have to our reactions.

Also according to Psychology Today, there is a difference between feelings and emotions: “Feelings are a conscious experience… Emotions are not conscious but instead manifest in the unconscious mind. These emotions can be brought to the surface of the conscious state through extended psychotherapy.”

These art therapy projects can help seniors be aware of their emotions in a conscious state so they can deal with them better.

1) Create A Postcard (and not send it)

If a senior is still angry or upset with someone you can help him express these emotions by creating a postcard for that person, but not sending it. This way the emotions are expressed, but they don’t have to worry anymore about confronting that person.

2) Draw or Paint Emotions

This project helps seniors to express their emotions visually. They can focus on what their feel during painting or drawing.

Check out this Art Set With Easel including oil pastels, crayons, colored pencils, markers, paintbrush, watercolor cakes, and a sketch pad

3) Create A Sculpture Of A Strong Emotion

A senior that carries a lot of anger or sadness can benefit from creating a sculpture of that strong emotion. This sculpture will be the physical manifestation of the emotion in their life.

4) Send Away A Lantern

Write a note with a negative emotion or situation that a senior wants to let go of and attach it to a balloon or lantern to let it letterly go up in the air. Set it free. This can also be done with positive emotions, to spread positivity. Another powerful way is to create a campfire and have seniors write out the things they want to let go of on pieces of paper and throw them in the fire. You can use these Chinese Lanterns that are biodegradable for this art project.

5) Transform List Of Emotions Into Mozaic Art

Together with seniors, you can make a list of all the things they struggle with. They can write all the strong emotions they’re feeling and list all the terrible situations in their life and the rest of the world onto paper. And then let them tear the list up and use the pieces to create a piece of art. Creating something ugly into something beautiful.

For more exercises to help seniors, this book: Essential Art Therapy Exercises: Effective Techniques to Manage Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD can be very helpful.

Art Therapy Projects For Seniors To Feel More Happiness

Instead of focusing on all the negative emotions, you can use art therapy to focus on the positive things in life. Pablo Picasso once said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Creating art nourishes the body, mind, and soul.

6) Draw A Heart

Let seniors draw or paint a big heart on a piece of paper or large canvas and let them paint people, objects, etc what is in their heart. And let them explain their painting to the group or you afterward. This will make them more aware of what is most important to them and get out of their head and into their heart.

7) Make A Moodboard Of A Perfect Day

Moodboards can work as a powerful tool to visualize one’s priorities. You can use old magazines where seniors can cut out images and important words and glue them on a board with the assignment to make a moldboard of a perfect day. And hang it up in their home. This art therapy project helps seniors consciously visualize, decide, and see what is most important in their lives. They will be reminded every time they see the mood board and work towards this vision every single day.

8) Create A Memory Jar

Another fun art project for more happiness (in the long term) is to create a memory jar. Seniors can decorate a simple jar and cut blank paper into smaller pieces. Then you give them the exercise to write something beautiful, memorable, or a happy moment on these note cards each day and put it into the jar. Every day they will be reminded that they’ve experienced a happy moment and when they feel sad they can read all the notes in the jar to feel happy.

9) Make Origami Cranes

A meaningful and cultural art project is to make Origami Cranes. According to Japanese tradition, folding 1,000 paper cranes gives a person the chance to make a wish come true. When you’re interested in the background story, you can read the book “Sadako & 1000 Paper Cranes” by Eleanor Coerr or start right away and get your origami supplies here.

10) Write A Self-Care Handbook

Another fun art project to create more happiness is to write a self-care handbook or keep a self-care journal. You can help seniors write down things they really need to make them feel better about themselves. This can be activities, people, and behavior that leads them to more happiness in their life.

This offers seniors the space to create a self-care routine and commit to it more with positive intentions and dedication, which helps with developing positive thinking and nourishes a general sense of well-being.

Art Therapy Projects For Seniors To Overcome Trauma And Unhappiness

The following art therapy exercises are great tools to help seniors overcome traumas and go from an unhappy state of mind to a more happy state of mind.

11) Write A Letter To Someone Lost

Seniors dealing with grief can benefit from writing a letter to that special someone. Once they are done writing, you ask them to read the letter aloud. Expressing words of grief can help them deal with it better. And when seniors are spiritually open-minded you can explain to them that their loved ones are with them in spirit. And are with them every day and hear their thoughts, and expressed words.

12) Paint A Safe Place

Seniors who are anxious and deal with trauma can benefit by painting or drawing a safe place. Painting it can make them feel safe, but having that painting in their home can also make them feel safe every time they see it.

13) Create A Postcard From Future Self

When seniors struggle it is hard to imagine a future where they feel happy and better. And an art project is to create a postcard from their future self. At the front, they can draw a picture about how they want their life to be in the future. And on the back, they can write encouraging words of advice from their future self. Which gives them hope.

14) Draw A Flower With Positive Self Talk Statements

Let seniors draw a flower with petals and write a self-talk statement on each petal. You can hand out a list of positive thoughts and affirmations which they can read and see which statements they resonate with most and use them for their flower.

15) Draw A Hand “In My Control”

Seniors can trace their hands onto the paper. And then write on the inside of the hand, “in my control” and on the outside “out of my control”. Then seniors can write the things inside the hand that are in their control such as their own words, behavior, thoughts, etc. And after that write down all the things that are outside their control, outside the hand, such as other people’s reactions, behavior, weather, world events, etc. This gives seniors a very clear sight of what they can’t and cannot control which helps them have less anxiety and more peace of mind. This video below demonstrates it perfectly.

Art Therapy Projects For Seniors To Express Gratitude

This article on Harvard Medical School says “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships”.

And these art therapy projects can help them express their gratitude in a powerful and creative way.

16) Keep A Gratitude Journal

A very effective and simple way of expressing gratitude is keeping a gratitude journal where seniors can write every day. It helps seniors to find the positive things in life and experience more joy. This 5-Minute Gratitude Journal is a helpful tool to give seniors.

17) “I Am Grateful For” Wheel

Seniors can create a gratitude wheel. First, draw a circle and write the words: “I am grateful for” and along the circle seniors can write all the things they’re grateful for. After they’re finished they add colors to make it more lively and colorful.

18) Create A Gratitude Tree

Collect branches or sticks from nature or cut out a tree from paper or wood. Then cut leaves or pieces of paper which you can hang up in the tree. And the exercise is to write down things they’re grateful for on the notes that represent the leaves of the tree. Below is a video tutorial:

19) Write A Letter Of Gratitude To Someone Special

Ask seniors to write a letter to someone they’re very grateful for. After finishing writing, ask them to call up this person or read the letter out loud. Watch this video below for beautiful examples:

20) Paint All Positive Things In Life

Ask seniors to make a list of all the positive things in their life. It’s a good exercise for people to figure out what makes them truly happy. Once they’re done with the list, ask them to paint it on a canvas.

Art Therapy Project For Seniors To Relax

Focusing on a project helps people to let go of their everyday worries and problems and be fully invested in their art activity. Art therapy helps people to be in the now and this releases stress hormones which leads to a peaceful relaxing feeling. These art projects below help with relaxation:

21) Make A Mandala

You can create a colorful mandala with sand, paint, or pencils. Seniors will get in a meditative state of mind where there is no room for worries.

A Tibetan Buddhist tradition is to create a mandala with colored sand. This activity involves both the creation and the destruction of mandalas. Once it is complete they destroy it to symbolize the impermanence of life and not to get attached, because attachment is suffering.

22) Create A Painting With Calming Colors

Another relaxing art therapy project is to have seniors paint (whatever they like) with calming colors.

23) Finger Paint

Finger painting is not just fun for kids. For seniors too. Who doesn’t like to get their hands dirty and start creating? This finger painting set includes finger paint that is washable and non-toxic.

24) Draw A Landscape Outside

Being in nature is relaxing. And painting is relaxing too. Why not combine these two and create a beautiful landscape painting while you watch the landscape live. The sound of the wind, birds, etc will help seniors relax, and trying to draw the landscape makes them appreciate the beautiful world we live in.

25) Paint To Relaxing Music

Music is vibration, which immediately impacts our state of mind. And relaxing or healing music seniors can relax more and let their intuition and creativity flow on a painting.

If you worry about your retired dad that has no hobbies or social life, this is the article for you. I’m here to help you help your retired dad with these 8 simple tips.

1) Ask Your Dad If & How You Can Help

The first thing you need to establish is if your worry is justified. Perhaps you worry about your dad having no hobbies is because you yourself wouldn’t feel happy having any hobbies. Maybe your dad is perfectly fine having no hobbies. This is something to think about before you interfere with your dad’s retired life.

When you notice your dad is unhappy, you could ask him how you can help him. Perhaps he is afraid to ask for help and therefore you could be the one to make the first move. The asking for help part is usually the biggest threshold. After that things are a lot easier. And your dad can point out where in his life he needs help.

There can also be the case that your dad complains a lot about his life, but doesn’t know how to turn things around. He doesn’t even know that he needs help, but you see that he struggles. Then you can try to interfere more in his life and encourage him in certain directions. For some people, this requires a subtle approach because obvious ones will upset them. And for other dads, the help can be more obvious and will be well received. You have to figure that out, and sometimes it’s trying by default, to see what works best. The following tips can help you out with that.

2) Apply Him For Classes

When your dad is bored and obviously wants something to do in his retirement, but doesn’t know where to start, you can apply him for classes. This way he can explore new hobbies and interests and learn new things along the way. You can check out nearby his home for classes, but you can also apply him for online classes, which he can start today!

One of my favorite platforms is Masterclass, where you can access 100+ different classes from the World’s Greatest. They all share their tricks, tips, and secrets via easy-to-follow videos that are accessible for everyone and any skill level. From Gordon Ramsay, Alicia Keys, Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Finley to many more exciting experts in their field. Your dad can learn anytime, anywhere, and at his own pace.

It’s an amazing gift for your dad and it will help him to explore new hobbies and get mentally challenged. Important keys to a happy and healthy (body, mind, and soul) retirement.

3) Explore New Hobbies Together

When your dad wants to have a fun hobby in retirement but needs help finding one. You can help him with exploring new hobbies together.

Often when someone has become inactive, the threshold to become active and make something of their life is too high. They lack self-confidence and need that extra outside push to get the ball rolling. Maybe your dad is alone or your mom isn’t the encaustic or stimulating type to help your dad get out of his rut.

Your positive stimulation, motivation, and presence in exploring a hobby are for you a small gesture and for him a big help. And by doing it together you have an extra opportunity to build a stronger bond. You will give him a positive “kick in the pants” just to get things started and get going. Once he gets the hang of it, he will continue on his own.

And finding a perfect hobby for your dad isn’t about hitting a home run right away. getting the exploration train moving is the hardest part. Along the way you and your dad will learn new insights and answers to what you do and don’t like. Trying out a new hobby creates positive momentum and helps to continue the quest. So why not try out something unusual and have some fun along the way. My article: 20 Unusual Hobbies To Try Out Once In Life can help you get inspired.

4) Encourage Him To Exercise

As I mentioned earlier, getting mentally challenged on a regular basis is important for a healthy brain.

There is another way that also helps and that is exercising.

Exercising has many benefits. Besides the physical health benefits, exercising also improves mental health and helps the person to be more productive and tackle whatever life throws at them. Exercising is also an enormous energy and mood booster. Your dad will feel better after a workout. That is what we all have experienced before. Even though you don’t like exercising, you feel better once you’re done.

According to a study on NCBI: “Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. Exercise has also been found to alleviate symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal.”

When you can encourage your dad to start exercising in the morning, it will help him to stay active during the rest of the day. He will be much more motivated to do something positive that day. And when he exercises each day this will lead to healthy habits and a better overall mood.

Perhaps this is an activity that you can do together. For example, can hike every morning, follow a fitness class every week, or gift him outdoor hiking shoes as a sign of support and motivation to exercise more. Or show him how to work with a Fitness app, like Aaptiv.

Aaptiv is the no.1 Fitness app with more than 1000 different audio and video workouts. From Yoga to Total Body Training, there’s a class for every interest and fitness level. You can start a free trial for seven days for your dad here. You’ll get the professional guidance of a certified expert trainer on demand.

5) Create A Bucket List Together

Another way to help your dad move forward in life is to set a goal.

Goalsetting is so important. It gives your dad a direction in life, a new focus point that will impact his day-to-day decisions, it helps him prioritize, gives inspiration, and ultimately more happiness.

A great way to make this a bit more fun is to create a bucket list. You can gift him a Bucket List Journal to inspire and motivate him. Or when you’re dad loves to travel this book: 50 States, 5000 Ideas will encourage him to go travel more.

And another way is to help your dad with creating a bucket list. It can be a fun activity you can do together.

When people think about bucket lists they always imagine it has to be extreme experiences. But that doesn’t have to be. It is the small moments in life that make it magical. And even dreams that seem impossible can be made possible with a step-by-step plan or a more creative approach.

Once you created a bucket list with or for your dad, you can help him try to tick it off. Because when the first one is ticked off your dad will get a taste for more.

Read more: 25 Great Retirement Bucket List Gift Ideas

6) Motivate Him To Go Into Nature

Does your dad spend a lot of his time indoors? Then it’s wise to encourage him to go outside more. Get him back into nature, that is where the magic happens.

Being in nature reduces anger, fear, and stress, and increases the mood. Nature will make your dad feel better emotionally. And it also contributes to your dad’s physical health: reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. 

Negative ions are the key to well-being. They strengthen the body’s immune system and stimulate the supply of oxygen to the brain, activating the mind and the body as well as bringing more mental energy. Most negative ions (from 5,000 – 50,000 per cubic centimeter) are present in the mountains, at sea, and in forests. 

Motivate your dad to take a walk in the park, start gardening or take a swim in a nearby lake, river, or ocean.

To give you some insight into what it can do, continue reading:

Sunlight

Sunlight boosts serotonin levels in the body. This hormone improves your mood and makes you feel calm and focused.

Also, your body produces vitamin D when you’re exposed to sunlight. No wonder it’s called the “sunshine vitamin” because it helps the body absorb calcium, which is essential for bone health. Experts from Healthline suggest that you need 5 to 15 minutes of sunlight on your arms, hands, and face two to three times a week. That is enough to enjoy the vitamin D-boosting benefits of the sun.

And taking off sunglasses can benefit as well. The sunlight gives signals to particular areas in the retina (eye), which triggers the release of serotonin. But don’t look directly in the sun because that harms your eyes.

Fresh Air

Fresh air can help your dad refresh his mind. And it helps digest food more effectively, improves blood pressure and heart rate, and strengthens the immune system, leading to a healthier life.

Ocean

Ever felt refreshed or energized after a jump in the ocean? Well, that’s because magnesium-rich seawater helps promote our body’s natural relaxation process leaving us feeling refreshed after each swim. It relaxes our muscles; it reduces stress and helps induce sleep.

The unadulterated bacteria and iodine in the sea ease constipation and cleanses the gut, which is why it makes you feel more energized after a jump in the ocean. And the bacteria help improve our immune function, and the magnesium improves nutrient absorption in the body resulting in better metabolic activity.

A jump in the ocean or a salt bath regularly can help your dad feel much better.

7) Be A Matchmaker

Another way to help your dad is to be a matchmaker. As I described above you can find a match in the form of a new hobby or goal in life, but this time I mean to be an actual matchmaker.

In this role, you can help your dad meet new friends, find a new club, or find him a new romance when he is single.

First, ask your dad if he wants to meet new people and what qualities he is looking for in new future (girl)friends. This will make things easier for you.

And there are all sorts of creative and fun ways to make your matchmaking skills a success. For example, you can invite your dad’s neighbors over for a BBQ to get him more involved in his own neighborhood, visit a seniors community center together, post an ad in the local newspaper, hang up a sign at the local supermarket, or invite your co-workers/ friends parents over who is in a similar situation as your dad. Or organize a speed dating evening and invite retired single ladies, when you know your dad is a hottie.

Another way to find your dad a new romance is by using the best platform for meeting other senior singles and that is Eharmony. 

8) Sign Up For Volunteer Work

One of the most effective ways to help your dad is to sign him up for volunteer work.

It is one of the most popular activities in retirement because retirees love to volunteer.

And that is for good reason because volunteering has so many benefits. First of all, helping others makes you instantly happier. And it can do other things for your dad: creates a daily structure, gives a new purpose in life, creates opportunities for socializing and meeting new friends, and gives someone a happy and satisfying feeling at the end of the day.

Volunteer work can give your dad his feeling of worthiness back. The key to a happy retired life.

And to help you out even further, below are some interesting links where you can find volunteer jobs for your dad.

Useful Links To Find Volunteer Job For Your Retired Dad

• Habitat.org: As a volunteer, you construct homes or renovate older or damaged ones. They are spread around the US.
• PeaceCorps.gov: Opportunity to volunteer abroad, within communities overseas to improve education, health, environment, and more. This is a cheap way to travel because housing and travel expenses are taken care of. 
• Volunteer.gov: check out this website if you’re dad is interested in volunteering in the national parks of the USA. 
• MealsonWheelsAmerica.org: Your dad can deliver food to the hungry by volunteering for Meals on Wheels.
• You don’t have to look far for volunteering. Your dad can also help out his neighbor(s) with simple tasks if they are not able to do this anymore.

Retirement is supposed to be a time with lots of fun activities planned and staying happy and healthy. Well, this isn’t the reality for many retirees out there. And that is why many kids are concerned about their unhappy retired parents. You and many others would ask themselves, what to do when my dad is retired and bored?

Well, I’m here to help you out! I researched hours and listed 16 simple and powerful ways in this article that will help your retired and bored dad immediately. Let’s start unpacking.

1) Apply For Classes

The easiest way to help your bored dad is to apply him for classes. You can check out nearby classes, but you can also apply him for online classes, which he can start today!

One of my favorite platforms is Masterclass, where you can access 100+ different classes from the World’s Greatest. From Gordon Ramsay, Alicia Keys, Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Finley to many more exciting experts in their field. They all share their tricks, tips, and secrets via easy-to-follow videos that are accessible for everyone and any skill level. Your dad can learn anytime, anywhere, and at his own pace.

I highly recommend checking out Masterclass. It can be a fantastic gift for your dad, and it will help him not be bored anymore. Also, through all the different classes, he can explore new future hobbies and learn new things, which will benefit his health and mood for a long time.

2) Explore New Hobbies Together

Another way to help your bored and retired dad is to explore new hobbies together. Sometimes the threshold to start exploring is too high for someone who feels alone and sad. Lacking self-confidence keeps someone inactive. Perhaps your dad can use your stimulation and motivation to start exploring new hobbies together. You will give him a positive ‘kick in the pants’. Just to get things started and get going. Once he gets the hang of it, he will continue on his own.

And when it comes to finding a new hobby, it doesn’t need to be a home run right away. Just only doing something new will give you new insights and answers to what you do and don’t like. It creates positive momentum and helps to continue the quest. Therefore try out something unusual and have some fun along the way. My article: 20 Unusual Hobbies To Try Out Once In Life can help you get inspired.

3) Motivate To Exercise

Exercising has many benefits. Besides the physical health benefits, exercising also improves mental health and helps you to be more productive and tackle whatever life throws at you. Exercising is an enormous energy and mood booster.

According to a study on NCBI: “Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. Exercise has also been found to alleviate symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal.”

When you can motivate your dad to start exercising in the morning, it will help him to stay active during the rest of the day. He will be much more motivated to do something positive each and every day.

Perhaps you can hike every morning together or gift him outdoor hiking shoes as a sign of support and motivation to exercise more. Or show him how to work with a Fitness app.

You can download the no.1 Fitness App Aaptiv for your dad. He’ll get access to more than 1000 different audio and video workouts and get the guidance of a certified expert trainer on demand. From Yoga to Total Body Training, there’s a class for every interest and fitness level. You can start a free trial for seven days for your dad here.

4) Help To Structure His Days

As I explained above, a healthy start of the day, like exercising, can help your dad stay productive and in a positive mood during the rest of the day.

Many retirees struggle with structuring their days in retirement. The endless free time can be overwhelming, and they start to lay on the couch more and more and scroll through social media for hours on end. This creates a negative spiral and leads to boredom and feeling unhappy and unsatisfied.

Helping your dad structure his retirement days will help him not to be bored anymore. You can find more information in my article: How To Structure Your Retirement Day: 15 Tips.

5) Find A Pet

Finding a pet to take care of is also a way to help your bored dad in retirement. A pet needs attention care and creates more structure and new meaning in your dad’s life. A dog will help him get out of the door a couple of times a day and make him more fit. And when your dad is less mobile, a different pet like a cat can be suitable for him.

Please note that taking care of a pet is serious business. Pets need someone who can take care of them properly and is in good health. It is what they deserve as well—a two-way street. Your dad will find joy in an animal companion in retirement, and the animal is fortunate to have a loving human taking care of them.

My article: 10 Scientific Based Facts How Pets Help Old People can be a helpful read as well.

6) Inspire To Improve Cooking Skills

The quote: “You are what you eat” is very true. And the chances are that someone who is bored like your dad feels unhappy and will eat food that is not so good for him. A happy person is more likely to choose healthy food. Choosing healthy food is choosing self-love. And also, healthy food will bring out the best in you. It is a positive spiral upwards when you eat healthily. It benefits your mood, mental and physical health.

That is why helping your dad with his cooking skills will help him take care of himself inwardly, and that only will benefit him on the outside as well.

And a great platform to improve cooking skills (for any skill level) is Masterclass. They have over 20 different cooking classes from the world’s renowned chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Massimo Bottura, Aaron Franklin, Thomas Keller, and many more! Your dad can upgrade his skills or start from scratch when cooking with Masterclass. From Mexican, Southern Food to Japanese, Italian, and everything in between. Your dad will have access to all classes. And gifting him access to Masterclass Cooking Classes will inspire him to start appreciating cooking and eating positively.

Perhaps you’ll be surprised with a culinary evening next time you see him. Or give him a challenge. Next week or month I want to have a 3-course Italian meal cooked by you.

7) Sign Up For (Volunteer) Work

One of the most popular activities in retirement is doing volunteer work. It has everything in it that will help a retiree not feel bored. Volunteer work creates a daily structure, gives people a new purpose in life, creates opportunities for social interactions, and gives someone a happy and satisfying feeling at the end of the day. It can give your dad his worthiness back. The key to a happy retired life. Below are some interesting links to find volunteer jobs for your dad.

Where To Find A Volunteer Job For Your Retired Dad

• Habitat.org: As a volunteer, you construct homes or renovate older or damaged ones. They are spread around the US.
• PeaceCorps.gov: Opportunity to volunteer abroad, within communities overseas to improve education, health, environment, and more. This is a cheap way to travel because housing and travel expenses are taken care of. 
• Volunteer.gov: check out this website if you’re dad is interest in volunteering in the national parks of the USA. 
• MealsonWheelsAmerica.org: Your dad can deliver food to the hungry by volunteering for Meals on Wheels.
• You don’t have to look far for volunteering. Your dad can also help out his neighbor(s) with simple tasks if they are not able to do this anymore.

If you want to read more information about why volunteering is popular among so many retirees, I recommend reading my article, Why Do Retirees Volunteer?

8) Create A Bucket List

One of the most tangible, effective, and simple ways to help your bored dad in retirement is to create a bucket list for him or together with him. It can inspire him to make the best of his time in retirement. Also, setting a goal like pursuing something on a bucket list is very powerful. A goal gives your dad a direction in life. It helps to move forward in life and gives your dad a reason to get up in the morning.

Life is all about creating beautiful memories and having extraordinary experiences.

This Bucket List Book & Planner can be a great gift and can work as a motivation and inspiration to help your dad make the best of his life. It is full of incredible places and unforgettable experiences and includes planning pages and 100 journal pages so your dad can capture each experience.

9) Motivate To Start Gardening

Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in retirement. It is the most perfect activity in retirement.

As I explain in my article 11 Science-Based Benefits Why Gardening Is Good For Seniors:

Gardening is the perfect activity for getting regular exercise, strengthening mobility, coördination, reducing stress, and increasing social interactions. Research shows that gardening increases problem-solving, which helps maintain the brain’s cognitive functions—seniors who are actively gardening reported benefits like better physical and mental health. 

So getting your dad into gardening can help him tremendously in all ways of his life. Did you know that there is a great online class on Masterclass about gardening too? In the Masterclass of Ron Finley, he teaches your dad how to grow his own food, keep his plants alive, and find beauty and freedom in gardening, no matter the size of his space. 

10) Find A Trusted Caregiver

When your dad needs a bit more care, you can consider hiring a trusted caregiver.

Care.com is a fast-growing platform that connects families with local trusted caregivers, dog walkers, and pet baby sitters. You can find a trusted caregiver for your dad, or you can find him a pet to take care of a couple of times a week/ month. Many families have a pet and would love to find a senior that will take care of their pet a few times a week/ month. 

11) Encourage To Become A Mentor/ Coach or Consultant

With a decades-long career, your dad has gained a lot of life experience but also an enormous knowledge and expertise in a certain type of field. You can encourage your dad to use this expertise and become a mentor, coach, or consultant.

For example, he can work as a freelance consultant at his previous company, become a sports coach for the team of one of his grandchildren or be a mentor for kids or old coworkers. It can be paid or on a voluntary basis. As you can see, the oppurtunities and possibilities are endless.

Perhaps he just isn’t aware of these possibilities, and you just have to bring it to his attention. Or perhaps make the first move when he needs that extra help.

12) Plan Weekly/ Monthly Family Dinners

If your dad is struggling, why not make an effort to create a new tradition with a weekly or monthly family dinner. It will make him feel like he still matters, which is huge and will only boost his self-confidence and help him get out of this negative energy flow. It also gives him something to look forward to. Every week, that one appointment acts as a coat rack (as we say in Dutch), where he can plan his life around more easily.

13) Inspire To Learn Something New (Together)

Staying mentally active is important to maintain brain health. In fact, getting mentally challenged every day helps your brain to function 30 years younger within just 6 weeks!! And doing it together creates joy for both of you and strengthens your bond.

Get inspired with this list: 30 Awesome New Things To Learn After 50

14) Plan A Trip

Half of the joy of going on a trip is not the actual trip but the planning beforehand.

That is why planning a trip for your dad will give him something to look forward to and keep him busy.

If he is alone, don’t worry. There are so many people traveling alone and having the time of their lives. It’s the best way to meet new people and experience new countries and cultures. And if your dad doesn’t want to travel alone, then he can find travel buddies on websites like Travel-Buddies.com and seniortravelbuddy.com.

Or you can go on a father-daughter, father-son trip or family trip.

15) Start Building A Family Tree

Now this will keep your dad busy for quite some time. Introduce him to the hobby of genealogy: “the study and tracing of lines of descent.”

You can gift him a My Heritage DNA test to reveal his unique ethnic background and match him with his newfound relatives. He can discover the specific groups he (and you) descend among 2,114 geographic regions and explore billions of historical records. He can make a family tree or write a family history book that will also be interesting for you.

Many senior citizens love to dig up things about their past, trace their ancestors, find answers and search for new relatives. Building a family tree or writing a family history book is a popular and meaningful activity in retirement.

16) Encourage To Go Outdoors

Nature works wonders for everyone. We are nature, and we lost our nature because we live between 4 brick walls. Therefore, it is vital for anyone to reconnect with nature, especially for people who feel unhappy. We all have experienced that things feel lighter and clearer after a walk in nature or a dive in the ocean.

If you want to help your bored dad in retirement, encourage him to go outside as much as possible. Being in nature reduces stress, boosts the immune system, and improves mood.

Even if it’s a daily brisk walk in the morning. Those couple of minutes of physical exercise and fresh air every day can have a massive impact on your dad’s physical and mental health. And it will give him the energy he needs to find a way to avoid boredom in retirement.

Also, send him my article: How Do I Not Get Bored In Retirement: 10 Helpful Tips.

As a senior, you want to do fun things at home, but also, as a loved one of a senior citizen, you want to make sure they live a happy life by staying busy. And that is why you might wonder, what can senior citizens do online?

Well, no need to look any further. I’ve listed 25 of the best online activities for senior citizens that are fun, interesting, and worth checking out. So let’s get started right away!

1) Play Games

Playing games is always fun. At least, that is what I think. And if you or a senior citizen you want to help also loves to play games, then you should know that you can do games such as sudoku, crossword puzzles, chess, poker, jigsaw puzzle, checkers online. You download different game apps on your phone or tablet to play every day.

And did you know that doing a puzzle or playing games improves mental health? It improves mental speed, memory, and thought processing. Keeping a brain active is essential to staying happy and healthy in retirement.

2) Follow An Online Class

Another fun thing senior citizens can do online is to follow a class. And there are fantastic online classes out there. One of my favorite platforms is Masterclass, where you can access all 100+ classes from the World’s Greatest. From Gordon Ramsay, Alicia Keys, Samuel L. Jackson, Ron Finley to many more exciting experts in their field. They all share their tricks, tips, and secrets via easy-to-follow videos that are accessible for everyone and any skill level. I highly recommend checking Masterclass out. It can be a fantastic gift for yourself or someone else.

3) Attend Virtual Events

There are also amazing free virtual events organized especially for senior citizens from interactive workshops, lectures, dance classes, webinars that are interesting to attend. It enables you to get informed about important topics, learn new things, and the chance to interact with other like-minded people online. You can visit the virtual community center from the organization AARP to check which online events are planned next.

4) Read Books

Reading books is a great activity for older people. It is the cheapest way to travel to another world without leaving your house. And when you or a senior citizen has read all of their books at home, you can easily read books online. With an E-reader and Kindle Membership, you have access to an unlimited amount of books and audiobooks. Impossible to read everything in this lifetime, but hey, you can always try.

5) Date

Are you single and ready to mingle? Then online dating could be an excellent activity for you. It’s a great way to interact with other people, make new friends, and who knows… maybe you even meet your new spouse online.

When it comes to dating at an older age, it’s different. Most senior citizens who are single are looking for a companion first. The romantic part is secondary. And that is why Eharmony is a great platform to check out. They’ve dedicated an entire section to seniors on their platform and are the #1 trusted dating app for senior citizens.

Their unique matching system focuses on finding the best connection for you. Compared to many other dating sites, you’ll get in contact with real people who share the same interests. You can test the waters with a FREE Trial here.

6) Make New Friends

Having friends makes life a lot more fun. But did you know that maintaining social connections regularly keeps you healthy? According to many studies, having a rich social life has been linked with many health benefits, like less risk of depression, longer life span, and even greater benefits, according to the article at Harvard Health Publishing.

And there are perfect opportunities for senior citizens to make friends online. I’ve listed a couple of interesting links below:

• Senior Travel Buddy is a social network where you can find a travel buddy.
• Ready To Care is an organization where you can find a penpale.
• Elder Treks is a travel adventure club designed for travelers 50 years and up.
• Evergreen is Bed & breakfast homestay travel club for people who are over 50.
• Woman Traveling Together a travel club for solo female travelers.

7) Do Bingo

You can organize a virtual bingo with other senior citizens. This way, you can still play bingo and interact with friends without leaving your home.

8) Visit A Virtual Escape Room

Do you love Sherlock Holmes and like to solve puzzles and mysteries. Then visiting a virtual escape room is an excellent activity for you or other senior citizens to do online. You can check out this free demo of a Mystery Escape Room.

9) Travel All Over The World

Yes, you can travel all over the World online. You can visit cities, walk through beautiful national parks and visit museums and art galleries without leaving your house. Go on youtube and type virtual walking tour and your favorite city and you’ll see a list of virtual tours. Also, many world-renowned museums offer virtual tours that can check out for FREE most of the time.

A walking tour of the famous Louvre Museum in Paris, France:

A walking virtual tour of Rome, Italy:

10) Shop

Shopping is one of the easiest activities senior citizens can do online. You can shop for everything you want online, from groceries, meals, clothing, appliances, hobby material. Perhaps you have a shopping list now. Check out if Amazon has the items you need.

11) Genealogy

One of the most popular hobbies in retirement is genealogy, “the study and tracing of lines of descent”. Many senior citizens love to dig up things about their past, trace their ancestors, find answers and search for new relatives. Building a family tree or writing a family history book is a popular and meaningful activity in retirement. And Myheritage.com can help you out with that.

You can do a DNA test to reveal your unique ethnic background and match you with newfound relatives. And discover the specific groups you descend from among 2,114 geographic regions and explore billions of historical records. You can start with a 14-day FREE trial to check it out.

10) Listen To Music

Listening to music is one of my favorite activities. And if you are done with listening to your old cassette tapes of vinyl records, you can explore new music online. Spotify is a great platform to listen to your favorite music but also gives you suggestions for new artists and albums you might like. But you can also listen to relaxing music or healing music because music is such a powerful tool that has many health benefits.

Music is vibration. And our body has its own unique vibration. Every organ or cell has its own unique vibration. And with the right music, you can heal parts of your body and uplift the mind.

Senior citizens who are depressed, lonely can benefit significantly from the simple action of listening to music. If you select positive and uplifting music, it can improve their mood, bring back happy memories, and improve their quality of life.

11) Learn A New Language

Another great activity senior citizens can do online is to learn a new language.

But there is a common misconception that seniors can’t learn a new language. But that is not true.

Seniors can learn a new language. They benefit from their large vocabulary, making it easier to learn more words in a new language. Only learning a new language as a senior might take longer because it becomes more challenging to learn new things when you get older. But if you continue challenging your brain (e.g. learning a new language) your brain functions 30 years younger!

Read more: 10 Benefits Of Learning A New Language At An Older Age

12) Listen To Podcasts

Podcasts have become widely popular over the last few years. And with good reason. You can find interesting podcasts on almost every topic. You can actively listen or put on a podcast in the background. You can easily find great podcasts on Apple Podcast App, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.

13) Start An Online Business

Anyone can start an online business. And the best part about an online business is that you don’t need a lot of money to get started and you can learn as you go. That is what we did. The only thing you need is a laptop/ tablet and an internet connection. And also time, but that is a luxury that most senior citizens have. Interested in starting an online business? Continue reading with my article: 15 Unique Business Ideas To Start In Retirement.

14) Reminisce

Grab your old photos and home videos and create a legacy box (digital copies). This way all your memories will be protected and can be shared online and shown to your family and friends. You can send in your photos and video to Legacybox and they will convert your tapes to digital.

15) Create Fun Videos

Making videos is so easy with a smartphone. Especially the newer ones create such high-quality videos that you can easily share them online. You can share daily journals, inspirational talks, or travel vlogs with your loved ones. Or you can even start a youtube channel or a Udemy course to share your expertise with the rest of the world, while also making an extra couple bucks.

And you don’t need to be a professional video editor to create amazing videos. There are many video creation platforms online that make video editing very easy.

16) Explore New Hobbies

Another fun activity seniors can do online is to explore new hobbies. The internet is a great source to check out new hobbies and see what sticks. You can go on Pinterest and explore creative hobbies just by pinning inspiring pins to your board and then Pinterest will help you find similar topics. Also, Youtube is a great source to find tutorials that will improve the skills of your favorite or new hobbies you’ve always wanted to try out.

Read more: How To Find A Hobby At 60 That You’ll Love: 9 Tips

17) Watch Movies & TV Series

Is it a rainy Sunday afternoon? Grab some popcorn and switch on a streaming platform with your favorite TV series or watch a movie you haven’t seen yet.

18) Find A Job

Many retirees love to stay busy by having a job in retirement. It creates structure in their day, gives new meaning to their life, keeps them socially active while earning some extra cash. A volunteer job can give your life a whole new purpose and makes you a happier person like many other retirees that love to volunteer. So if you or the senior citizens you take care of would benefit from having a job then you can search for jobs online easily.

Read more: 50 Best Jobs For Retirees

19) Catch Up With Old Friends

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or others are perfect to stay in contact with old friends and family members. You can see what they’re up to. But staying on social media too long can make you feel unhappy because you easily start to compare yourself with the unrealistic happy pictures and videos of other people. Therefore it can be worthwhile and take the extra step to contact a friend or family member and make an appointment to do a video call so you can have a meaningful conversation.

20) Have A Virtual Happy Hour

Do love you to make a nice cocktail or do you enjoy a nice cold beer or artisan glass of wine? Why not organize a virtual happy hour with your friends or family member to enjoy happy hour together. You can send virtual happy hour cocktail kits to everyone and have some fun together via video call or Zoom.

21) Do A Virtual Pub Quiz

You can attend a Live Virtual Pub Quiz such as Jay’s Virtual Pub Quiz. He streams a live pub quiz every couple of days (see below an example). You can easily play along with pen and paper.

22) Read Comics

If you love to read comics, then you don’t have to buy them anymore. There are several websites where you can download comics to your phone or tablet. Just type “read comics online” on Google and you’ll get a list of websites where you can find comics published recently but also from the ’50, ’60, ’70’s, etc.

23) Read The Newspaper

Another online activity for senior citizens is reading the newspaper. It is free and only if you want to read certain in-depth articles you will need a membership.

24) Pick Out A Pet

A pet is a great companion for every senior citizen. Healthy seniors can search for a new life companion online through websites such as adoptapet.com or petfinder.com. But if you don’t want a pet or can’t take care of a pet you can still find a pet to take care of a couple of hours a day. Many families have a pet and would love to find a senior that will take care of their pet a few times a week, month, etc. Care.com is a fast-growing platform that connects families with local trusted caregivers, dog walkers, and pet baby sitters.

25) Learn A New Profession

You have time, why not learn a whole new profession? Retirement is the perfect time to become a teacher, handyman, gardener, blogger, online entrepreneur. You can find a broad selection of excellent courses at Udemy.com

Learning an instrument as a senior is a great thing to do. You might ask yourself, what is the easiest instrument to learn for a senior? 

I researched this fun hobby of learning an instrument and asked several musicians and older adults about their learning experiences. It resulted in this list of musical instruments you can learn as a senior. The list is in order of most easy to more challenging. Let’s find out which instrument is the easiest to learn for a senior! 

Before we dig into the list of most accessible and fun instruments for seniors, head on to MasterClass. It’s the best platform to learn more about different instruments and music. You can get your Annual Membership for MasterClass here.

1) Hang Drum

A hang drum or hand pan is an easy instrument to learn. It’s a relatively new instrument. Created in 2000 by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer in Swizterland. The original Handpan is based on the Caribbean steelpan instrument.

Learning to play the hang drum is straightforward. You need to have a basic feeling of rhythm. Most of the time, you play the hang drum as a percussion instrument with your hand or the palm of your hands. There are also variants available which allow you to play the instrument with a small drumstick. These instruments are called tongue drums. 

The rhythms you create with the hang drum have a meditative effect. The instrument produces a dreamy-like sound, which helps to concentrate. According to Ramon Roelofs, a meditation teacher in The Netherlands and an internationally renowned DJ known as Charly Lownoise (famous from the duo Charly Lownoise & Mental Theo), the hang drum is one of the most straightforward instruments to play. He says, “Learning the Hang Drum is easy. You can easily create different rhythms while playing. The most important thing is that you have a feeling of rhythm, and then you can just start to play.”

So, the hang drum is one of the easiest instruments you can learn as a senior. You can get all creative and make your own rhythms while playing on the hang drum, or follow some free classes which you can easily find on YouTube. 

What are you waiting for? Get your hang drum today (available on Amazon) and start playing! 

2) Djembe

When you love to play an instrument with your hands and have a basic feeling for rhythm, the Djembe is an easy instrument to learn as a senior. You can create all kinds of rhythms while playing the Djembe. 

The Djembe is originated in Western Africa and was originally used to get the attention of all the people and make them gather in the same place. For example, to warn them of danger that was coming. So, the original purpose of this instrument was similar to that of church bells. 

Today, the Djembe is a famous percussion instrument used in all kinds of music genres. You don’t need any musical experience to play the Djembe, making it an easy instrument for seniors to learn. 

3) Bongo

Some people think that a djembe and bongo are the same instruments, but they are different. Both instruments are percussion instruments, meaning that you can easily play them with your hands. However, a bongo consists of a minimum of two hand drums of different sizes, where a Djembe often is one hand drum. 

Of course, some people put together different sizes of Djembes to play at once, creating a bongo-like drum kit of Djembes. Still, the sound of both instruments is different. Bongo’s have a more deep, bass-like sound compared to a Djembe. 

4) Tambourine

A tambourine is also a rhythm and sound instrument which is straightforward to learn as a senior. Like with all instruments, you need to have a basic feeling of rhythm to easily play. 

However, a tambourine is an instrument that is often combined with other percussion instruments such as the bongo. Mastering a tambourine takes a little practice, but it’s very easy and fun to play when you get the hang of it. 

5) Harmonica

The harmonica, also known as a mouth organ, is a traditional instrument to learn. It’s a worldwide known instrument used in all kinds of genres, making it a very popular instrument. 

Learning to play the harmonica isn’t the most easiest instrument to learn. However, if you’ll practice enough, give it some time, you’ll quickly get the hang of it. Once you master the technique of playing the harmonica, you’ll have great fun playing some music! 

6) Ukulele

A ukulele is one of my favorite instruments! It has a friendly sound and is relatively easy to learn. In fact, for a string instrument, it’s one of the easiest to play. A Ukulele only has four strings, which makes it easier to manage compared with a guitar. 

If you play the Ukulele, you’ll find yourself in some tropical vibes. As if you were always on the beach in Hawaii. My husband plays the Ukulele. Because of its lightweight and size, it’s easy to bring it with you. So we always have a Ukulele with us to play some music, great fun! Currently, he plays on a Soprano Ukulele, but he wants to switch to a larger model, so it’s easier to play different chords. 

I recommend doing some research when buying a Ukulele. There are different sizes available. All these models have four strings, but the neck can vary in length. The larger ukuleles are perfect for the fingerpicking technique and if you have larger hands. All the ukuleles are perfect for strumming and playing for fun! 

Most people who start learning to play Ukulele start with a soprano Ukulele, the smallest model available. However, you might want to start with a Concert model or Tenor model Ukulele if you have large hands. This way, it will be easier to learn to play the chords and start learning the fingerpicking technique as well.

7) Bass Guitar

A bass guitar will be a great alternative if you love playing string instruments but find it harder to play chords! Standard bass guitars have 4 strings, and most rhythms only consist out of playing the actual notes. 

You can get all funky by playing bass rhythms on the bass guitar. However, because of the bass sound, it’s not as happy as playing the Ukulele. 

When you’re keen on playing in a band with other musicians, you still need to figure out which instrument you want to play. Pick the bass guitar! There is always a shortage of bass players everywhere, so it’s probably easy to find other musicians to form a group.

8) Flute

A flute is a somewhat classical instrument to play and is very popular among seniors. A flute is not only fun to play but also has many health benefits. Because of the breathing techniques, you’ll do when playing the flute, playing it becomes almost a form of meditation. 

Many music teachers say that you’re never too old to learn to play the flute. And because the instrument is used in music that most seniors listen to, they can also easier relate to it. Which makes it easier to learn the instrument. 

Of course, there are different flutes available. Depending on your level of experience and the music genre you want to play, you need to pick a flute. It’s recommended to visit a music store and try out different flutes before you buy one. 

9) Guitar

Many people love to play the guitar. It is a beautiful instrument to play, but it isn’t the most easiest instrument to learn. Yes, you can learn to play some chords in just a day. But if you’re learning to play complete songs or creating your own songs, you definitely need to practice a lot. 

For seniors, learning to play the guitar can be great fun. Most seniors have a lot of time on their hands. For retirees looking for a new hobby, learning the guitar is perfect! 

There are many free courses available on YouTube where you can start learning to play the guitar. I think this is a great place to start. When you master the basics and learn the different chords, you probably can switch to a music class. 

You can also start with music lessons in a group. Learning to play the guitar in a group, or any other instrument, in fact, is great fun and perfect to increase your social contacts. 

Comparing a guitar with a Ukulele is a bit difficult because these instruments are both different. There are similarities, but it actually stops with similar chords, and they both are string instruments. 

With a guitar, you’ll have more options to play different genres. With a Ukulele, you’ll always find yourself in a tropical vibe. 

10) Piano

The piano is very popular among seniors. Many seniors played the piano when they were younger. Maybe you always wanted to learn to play the piano. Let’s say you’re a retired senior; this might be the right time to learn how to play the piano! 

In general, the piano isn’t the most easiest instrument to learn. However, most seniors grew up with the piano as a popular instrument. The basic knowledge of the instruments helps to understand many seniors learning to play the piano quickly. 

The piano is also an instrument that is related to many health benefits. According to Harvard Health Publishing, playing piano for seniors is related to strengthen their memory. It’s also used for people who suffer from dementia to decrease their symptoms! 

11) Saxophone

I really love the saxophone. It’s such a great and funky instrument. However, not the most easiest to play. But once you master it, you can play so much different music styles! 

You need to plan to practice the saxophone because the instrument can be very loud while you play it. So, you need to make sure that you can practice playing without disturbing your neighbors or something. 

A great way to learn to play is by following lessons in a music school that’s close to your home. 

12) Trumpet

We are definitely getting in the more difficult instruments now. In general, learning the trumpet for seniors can be challenging. This is because of the technique it takes to play the trumpet. 

The technique of using your mouth and lips while playing the trumpet is the most difficult part. It can take a long time to learn that, next to the breathing as well. However, with the right mindset and enough time, everyone can still learn to play the trumpet. 

13) Violin

The Violin is one of those instruments people say you need to start learning it as a child. Otherwise, it’s impossible to learn. I don’t think anything is impossible, so seniors can be learning to play the Violin just like anyone else. You probably will not become a concert violist, but with the right determination, you will probably learn to play a decent violin. 

So, the Violin isn’t the most easiest instrument to learn for seniors. Many seniors like the Violin as an instrument because it’s used classical music and other genres they listen to. Earlier, I told you about MasterClass as a platform to learn more about different instruments and music in general. 

Learning the Violin by Itzhak Perlman is a MasterClass available on the platform. He’s a worldwide known artist and famous for his performance at the inauguration of former President Obama.

14) Drums

The easiest instruments to play for seniors are percussion instruments. Learning to play the drums is a whole different story. However, once you master the drums, it will be greatly rewarding! 

Just like with a saxophone, drums can be very loud. So many seniors who learn to play the drums choose to play on an electrical drumkit with headphones plugged in. This way, you can still learn to play the drums but don’t make as much noise. 

Once you learn the basics, it might become relatively easy to learn playing the drums as a senior. Learning the drums might be difficult at the beginning, but in the end, you’ll have great fun! 

15) Producing Electronic Music

Learning to produce electronic music might be the most difficult for seniors. The software updates are hard to keep up with. Because you’re working on a computer most of the time, it’s something completely different than playing a traditional instrument. 

According to renowned DJ Charly Lownoise, it’s hard to keep up with the developments in electronic music. Especially when you stop actively producing for a while. 

It’s not impossible, though, but when you start producing electronic music as a senior, you need to make sure you have an instrument in both electronic music and computers. 

Best Online Course For Learning Instruments

The MasterClass platform is the best course to learn online about playing different instruments and producing music. 

Worldwide renowned artists and producers like Itzhak Perlman, Alicia Keys, Sheila E., and many more have a MasterClass available on the platform. 

Each class contains different video lessons to learn more about a music style, playing an instrument, and other valuable knowledge. 

Best of all, with the annual membership for the MasterClass platform, you’ll get all access. Meaning you can follow each MasterClass available on the platform! Get your Annual Membership here.